Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 85, January 2009, pp. 1-20.

1

The Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus
monachus, Hermann 1779) in Palestinian,
Mediterranean and Atlantic Waters
By: Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa

Taxonomy
Scientific name: Monachus monachus Hermann, 1779.
Common names: Engl.: Mediterranean Monk Seal; Arab.: Fuqma, Faqma; Russ.:
Tyulen'; Turk.: Akdeniz foku; Ger.: Mittelmeer-Mönchsrobbe.
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Pinnipedia
Family: Phocidae
Subfamily: Monachinae
Genus: Monachus
Species: Monachus monachus

Natural History
The Mediterranean monk seal averages 2.4 m in length (nose to tail) and is believed to
weigh 250-300 kg. Females are only slightly smaller than males.

Gazelle – Number 85 – January 2009